We started blogging and picture taking together. Last year about this time we both went to see the movie Julie and Julia. We both left pretty inspired. We decided we wanted to eat more and start a blog !!

We have had a lot of fun this year doing those 2 things together. She is really good at cooking, writing and picture taking...I am really good at copying her.

Another thing I am good at is inviting myself over her house so I can take pictures, eat her food and enjoy her company. Which reminds me..

Kathy, can we come over today after school and celebrate your big day of guest blogging? I promise we will eat whatever you bake us.

Friday, August 27, 2010

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

I have finally figured out how to change my header to a picture I took. I will be playing with this a lot in my spare time...which is not saying very much right now because school is really hard this year.

We are still staying very wet here most of the afternoon's. I try to be creative and take "new" pictures of the kids doing the same exact thing every day...but this is life for me..

I am very much a STAY AT HOME MOM...we stay home a lot!! Like all day sometimes...

We play in the hose, BBQ dinner and try not to drink a bottle of wine EVERY night...but I love every wet minute with them...and I love to see them playing together and making the most of our life together.

This is my life. I get to see this picture on a daily basis. I get to be the one to pull all this together. This is my life....WOW!!

They encourage me...they inspire me and they make me want to do better each day.

p.s. sorry for the totally blown out pictures the last 2 days...it has been so overcast lately I was having a hard time getting my camera to work with the bright beautiful sunshine. That just means I need more sunshine in my days to get better...

Saturday, August 21, 2010

A big fat heart break. I was backing out of a friends driveway and I did not see the post that holds up their entire porch. Thankfully, due to my skillful tap of the pole, nothing happened to the porch..just my sweet 12 passenger van.

I would be silly to say that my heart was not torn in two when this small event occurred. You see I think I LOVE this van. Do I love the church bus white of it?? Or do I love it because of what it means to me to have it????

I had my Suburban for 7 years prior to this van making my dreams come true. Ever since becoming a mom I have been a Suburban gal...never wanting the ease and comfort of a minivan. Then #5 came and the Suburban was just not cutting it anymore. So about 1 year ago Pete and I started the "I think we need a new car chat". And 2 months ago I got my new "used" car...and we have been lovin' on her ever since.

Let me explain my true connection to this van. I SAVED up the money to buy her. Pete and I decided we did not want to go into debt for a car so we made a plan to save the money to buy one CASH!!!

We stopped going out on dates, I stopped getting babysitters for an afternoon out. We said NO to me more times than I want to remember. I planned 2 nights a week when we had something super simple for dinner, like beans and rice or buttered pasta. I would like to say that I bought NO new clothes...but that is like IMPOSSIBLE with all these growing bodies.

But I will say that we stuck to bare minimums. We only bought 1 new bathing suit for the summer and we squeezed into the ones from last year. Sadly enough I was unable to buy any matching dresses for all 4 girls...a heart ache that still hurts (snicker, snicker).

I had a goal ...it was a car with all the seat belts working, windows that all worked and a seating chart that did not include someone getting whacked in the head upon entry. I wanted it...and I wanted to pay cash for it.

It took us almost a year..give or take a few months when I was unable to behave. Finally, in June we found the right van..the right price and the right sales guy and this is how that story goes.

We had saved $15,000...should I share that here??? But man...it was hard but we did it. I called the car place and told him I had a Suburban to trade in and I wanted 4000$ for it...he said great!! We drove to Atmore Alabama and the guy took one look at my heavily LOVED suburban...and told me I was out to lunch wanting $4000 for it.

I said to him, "I have saved 15,000$. That is what I am paying you for this van. You can take the price off the sticker price, or you can give me $4000 for the Burb. If you can't than I will keep looking until I find the guy who will take it." He said, what they always say, "I have to go talk to my manager."

He came back and said, "We can do it for $15,800." I said "WHOOOO-HOOOO"

We signed all the papers as quick as you can be with 5 small children hanging out with you. I wanted to get out of there before they changed their minds. I knew I wasn't going to get a better deal anywhere else.

We drove away in our 2009 Chevy Express 12 passenger van with 20,000 miles on it with side running boards and a slide door..and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

And we have been loving this van ever since...

Until yesterday when I was crushed when I saw something I worked so hard for get damaged. It will be fixed Monday...the total price is yet to be determined...but I will be back to beans and rice until she is all better!!

Knitterthatgrew on InstaGram

I have been having some fun with Instagram lately. Everyone is welcome to see the photos that I take. Pete is having fun with it too and his pictures are, well, very Pete.

I am not sure how to link to me but I guess you could either

1) search for knitterthatgrew

2) send an email to mommyofemily@hotmail.com

Anyway, I seem to be able to take more quick snapshots this way.

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My Mom..In Poetry And Rollers

This is what my mom e-mailed me about the picture I put up of her in her rollers....she is so cute....Rollers, rollers in my hair Why must I use them It’s just not fair Fair or not they must be used So silky, shinny, smoothness can be infused Do you want dry, frizzy, awful hair No you say – than be aware and don’t despair Use the rollers and you’ll have nice hair!

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Thanks Everyone!

I just want to thank all of you for reading my new blog. I am having the best time writing this and am greatful that people are reading. Feel free to leave a comment or feedback. I would love for you to pass on the blog to any of your friends . I love reading blogs so send me any good blogs you are reading. Happy reading!